The undergraduate degrees offered in IAS prepare students for a wide variety of graduate programs. IAS faculty members are happy to talk with you about your plans and aspirations. In the meantime, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Keep copies of your best writing and research samples (whether scholarly or creative).

2. Be involved in undergraduate research with professors and peers; do presentations at conferences and publications; join associations.

3. Write the best personal statement that you can; it must be error-free, engaging, and program specific.

4. Talk with your professors about writing recommendations for you. Take advantage of their graduate school networks since they know the inside scoop about many programs that might otherwise seem similar.

5. Stay in touch with those faculty members down the road.

6. Learn about the GRE and other relevant exams.

7. Start early on your research and application process, preferably the spring of the year before you plan to apply. For example, if you are interested in starting graduate school in fall 2012, you will need to think seriously about compiling your application materials in spring 2011.

8. Apply to a variety of schools.

9. Do a campus visit, if possible; talk to current graduate students; contact graduate advisors with questions.

10. Be able to translate the learning you have accomplished in your degree for admissions committees. It will be important for you to explain why the program to which you are applying builds on what you have done.

11. Check out the statistics and other information on career pathways after you finish graduate school.